Quote:
Originally Posted by aerohead
........So far,and for sub-transonic velocity,three-dimensional flow,the 2.5:1 teardrop body-of-revolution remains the lowest drag aerodynamic form to be discovered and published about.
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Actually, Zedan et al at University of Houston about 30 years ago found ~3.33:1 body of revolution to be best, with point of max thickness at ~44.22% of length. Carmichael et al have published on this, saying essentially the same. Hertel, too. Fast swimming fishes such as tuna are shaped in such proportions-otherwise they don't get breakfast, but
are breakfast.
But, since we cannot drive around in fish-like bodies of revolution, and have comparatively crappy vehicle shapes to deal with, how about somebody trying a pie-plate-on-a-pole mod for a motorcycle?
After all, a motorcycle is about the worst shape on the road aerodynamically, so may have the most to gain with the bike running in the wake of the pie plate. Might be handy breaking up the wake turbulence and buffeting behind trucks, too, leaving the bike rider in a relatively calm pocket of air, saving fuel into the bargain.